The widow of a Derry City FC legend who lost his battle with cancer this month says she is "totally overwhelmed" that a stand at the Brandywell Football Stadium is to be named in his honour.

Derry City and Strabane District Council this evening voted that a stand at the new stadium, owned by the council and due for completion in 2017, is to be named after Candystripes star striker Mark Farren, who died on February 3 aged just 33.

Mark's widow Terri-Louise says she is overwhelmed that her husband's legacy will live on in the place he called 'home'.

“Yes I am totally overwhelmed that they are calling the stand after Mark,” she said. “He would be totally delighted and proud for the stand to be named after him. He spent so much time at Derry City FC that I would be proud to say he would be honoured to have it named after him.

“Mark was always very modest and humble and probably wouldn't understand why it would be named after him, but I am very grateful that his legacy might live on in Derry and most importantly at the Brandywell. I know he spent most of his footballing career there, but for him that was home, so it will be such a lovely gesture.”

Mark lost his long and courageous battle with cancer earlier this month. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour for the first time in 2008. He battled back to health and back onto the pitch, becoming the club's highest goal scorer in 2012 and going on to sign for Glenavon. However, the cancer returned in 2015 sparking a huge fundraising drive in his home city to help pay for treatment in Germany and more recently in Mexico.

The motion to name the stand was brought forward by Sinn Fein Mayor Elisha McCallion who said that the honour was a reflection of the community's wishes.

“In memory of Mark and reflecting the widely held view in the community we propose that the new stand in the Brandywell redevelopment be named `The Mark Farren’ Stand,” she told a full council meeting at Derry's Guildhall.

Mark is buried alongside his baby triplets, who died shortly after birth, in Ballybrack in Greencastle, Donegal.